Boat carrier assemblies and boat lift systems and methods including the same

ABSTRACT

A boat lift system for raising and lowering a multi-hulled boat from and into a body of water, the boat including first and second laterally spaced apart hull structures, includes a carrier assembly and a drive system. The carrier assembly is configured to hold the boat. The carrier assembly includes a crossbeam having a length and first and second cradle assemblies spaced apart along the length of the crossbeam and secured to the crossbeam. Each of the first and second cradle assemblies is configured to receive a respective one of the first and second hull structures and includes a coupling bracket and a pair of longitudinally extending runners each secured to the coupling bracket and positioned to receive and support the respective one of the first and second hull structures. The coupling bracket connects and resists lateral separation between the runners. The drive system is operable to selectively raise and lower the carrier assembly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to boat lifts and, more particularly, to boat lifts for lowering watercraft into a body of water and lifting the watercraft out of the water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is often desirable or necessary to remove a boat stored at a dock from the water. For example, during a storm, the boat may be damaged as a result of being banged against the dock by wind, waves or surges. Boats that are stored in the water may experience increased maintenance costs due to the need for more frequent painting, floating objects striking the hull and/or growth of crustaceans on the hull that must be removed.

In view of the foregoing, many boat owners need or desire to store their boats out of the water. In response to this demand, boat yards are available that will store a boat on land in a cradle or in a warehouse and, upon demand, will retrieve and place the boat in the water using a crane, forklift or the like. However, this alternative may be expensive and/or inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to embodiments of the present invention, a boat lift system for raising and lowering a multi-hulled boat from and into a body of water, the boat including first and second laterally spaced apart hull structures, includes a carrier assembly and a drive system. The carrier assembly is configured to hold the boat. The carrier assembly includes a crossbeam having a length and first and second cradle assemblies spaced apart along the length of the crossbeam and secured to the crossbeam. Each of the first and second cradle assemblies is configured to receive a respective one of the first and second hull structures and includes a coupling bracket and a pair of longitudinally extending runners each secured to the coupling bracket and positioned to receive and support the respective one of the first and second hull structures. The coupling bracket connects and resists lateral separation between the runners. The drive system is operable to selectively raise and lower the carrier assembly.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a carrier assembly for use with a drive mechanism for raising and lowering a multi-hulled boat from and into a body of water, the boat including first and second laterally spaced apart hull structures, is configured to hold the boat. The carrier assembly includes a crossbeam having a length and first and second cradle assemblies spaced apart along the length of the crossbeam and secured to the crossbeam. Each of the first and second cradle assemblies is configured to receive a respective one of the first and second hull structures and includes a coupling bracket and a pair of longitudinally extending runners each secured to the coupling bracket and positioned to receive and support the respective one of the first and second hull structures. The coupling bracket connects and resists lateral separation between the runners.

According to method embodiments of the present invention, a method for raising and lowering a multi-hulled boat from and into a body of water, the boat including first and second laterally spaced apart hull structures, includes providing a boat lift system including a carrier assembly and a drive system. The carrier assembly is configured to hold the boat. The carrier assembly includes a crossbeam having a length and first and second cradle assemblies spaced apart along the length of the crossbeam and secured to the crossbeam. Each of the first and second cradle assemblies is configured to receive a respective one of the first and second hull structures and includes a coupling bracket and a pair of longitudinally extending runners each secured to the coupling bracket and positioned to receive and support the respective one of the first and second hull structures. The coupling bracket connects and resists lateral separation between the runners. The drive system is operable to selectively raise and lower the carrier assembly. The method further includes: mounting the boat on the carrier assembly with the first and second hull structures seated in the first and second cradle assemblies, respectively; and raising and lowering the carriage assembly, and thereby the boat, with respect to the water using the drive system.

Further features, advantages and details of the present invention will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art from a reading of the figures and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments that follow, such description being merely illustrative of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a boat lift system according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded, perspective view of a carriage assembly forming a part of the boat lift system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, exploded, perspective view of a cradle assembly of the carriage assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a coupling bracket forming a part of the cradle assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the coupling bracket of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the carriage assembly of the boat lift system of FIG. 1 with a multi-hulled boat mounted thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown. In the drawings, the relative sizes of regions or features may be exaggerated for clarity. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another element, it can be directly coupled or connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

In addition, spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein the expression “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

With reference to FIGS. 1-6, a boat lift system 50 according to embodiments of the present invention is shown therein. The boat lift system 50 may be mounted on a set of pilings 20 (FIG. 1) or the like. The boat lift system 50 can be used to raise a multi-hull boat 10 (FIG. 6) from a body of water W and lower the boat 10 into the water W.

The boat 10 is exemplary of the multi-hull boats that may be handled using the boat lift system, but other types and configurations of multi-hulled boats may be employed. As used herein, a “multi-hull boat” is a boat having two or more separate, spaced apart hull structures that depend from a body of the boat and, in use, are at least partly submerged in the water and support the boat on the water. The hull structures typically are joined by a common deck. The hull structures may be unitarily formed or may be coupled by a separate connecting structure or structures. Examples of multi-hull boats include pontoon boats, catamarans, cathedral hull boats, and tunnel hull boats. Multi-hull boats are distinguished from, for example, flat bottom boats, round bottom boats, and single V-hull boats.

Turning to the boat 10 in more detail, the boat 10 includes a hull system 12 supporting a body or chassis 18. The hull system 12 includes a pair of elongated hull structures 14, 16 joined by a deck 15. The hull structures 14, 16 have convex, substantially U-shaped bottom surfaces 14A, 16A. It will be appreciated that boats having three or more hull structures or hull structures with different profiles (e.g., V-shaped) may also be handled using the boat lift system 50.

The boat lift system 50 includes a drive system 61 (FIG. 1) and a carrier assembly 100. The drive system 61 includes a pair of drive mechanisms 60 and a pair of drive linkages 70. The drive mechanisms 60 and the linkages 70 are merely exemplary of embodiments of the invention and other configurations and types of drive mechanisms and linkages may be employed.

Each drive mechanism 60 includes a drive motor 62, a gear reducer 64, and a drive unit 66. The drive mechanism 60 may include a drive mechanism as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,383,781 to Griffin, for example, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The drive linkages 70 include respective longitudinally extending, channel beams 72 that are spaced apart from one another. A reel 74 is rotatably mounted in each channel beam 72. Each reel 74 is coupled to a respective drive unit 66 to be selectively driven by the associated motor 62. Two cables 76 are mounted on each reel 74 on either end thereof. The cables 76 are arranged to be wound onto the reels 74 when the reels 74 are rotated in a first, forward direction, and to be paid out from the reels 74 when the reels 74 are wound in the opposite, reverse direction. The cables 76 are secured to the carriage assembly 100 by cable brackets 78.

The carriage assembly 100 has a longitudinal or lengthwise dimension or axis X-X and a lateral dimension or axis Y-Y perpendicular to the axis X-X (FIG. 2). The carriage assembly 100 includes a pair of laterally extending elongated crossbeams 102, 104 and a pair of cradle assemblies 110, 130 extending longitudinally across the crossbeams 102, 104. The cradle assemblies 110, 130 are supported on either end by the crossbeams 102, 104. The crossbeams 102, 104 are in turn supported by the cables 76 via the cable brackets 78, which are affixed to opposed ends 106 of the crossbeams 102, 104.

The crossbeams 102, 104 are spaced apart along the length of the carriage assembly 100 and extend substantially parallel to one another. The crossbeams 102, 104 may be formed of any suitable material and of any suitable configuration to rigidly support the boat 10. Suitable materials for the crossbeams 102, 104 may include steel. According to some embodiments, the crossbeams 102, 104 are I-beams (i.e., I-shaped in cross-section).

The cradle assembly 110 includes a pair of first coupling brackets 112, a pair of second coupling brackets 114, a pair of opposed runners 120, 122, securing bolts 111A, 111B, and nuts 113. Similarly, the cradle assembly 130 includes components 132, 134, 140, 142, 131A, 131B and 133 corresponding to components 112, 114, 120, 122, 111A, 111B and 113, respectively. The runners 120, 122 are secured to one another and to the crossbeams 102 and 104 by the coupling brackets 112, 114. Likewise, the runners 140, 142 are secured to one another and to the crossbeams 102 and 104 by the coupling brackets 132, 134.

The components of the cradle assemblies 110, 130 are assembled as subassemblies 112′, 114′, 132′ and 134′ including the coupling brackets 112, 114, 132, and 134, respectively. The subassemblies 112′, 114′, 132′, 134′ form attachments to the crossbeams 102, 104. The attachment or subassembly 112′ including the coupling bracket 112, the runners 120, 122 and the crossbeam 102 is exemplary of the subassemblies 114′, 132′, 134′ including the other three coupling brackets 114, 132, 134. The subassembly 112′ will now be described in further detail; however, it will be appreciated that this description likewise applies to the subassemblies 114′, 132′, 134′.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, each coupling bracket 112 has opposed side walls 112A, 112B connected by a center wall 112C. A bolt hole 112D is defined in a lower portion of the center wall 112C and bolt holes 112E are defined in the side walls 112A, 112B. According to some embodiments, the coupling bracket 112 is C-shaped in cross-section; however, other suitable shapes may be used (e.g., tubular). The coupling bracket 112 may be formed of any suitable strong, rigid material such as steel. According to some embodiments, each coupling bracket 112 is a unitary member (e.g., formed by bending, machining, stamping and/or welding).

Each runner 120, 122 (FIG. 3) includes a rail 120A, 122A and a bumper 120G, 122G. Each rail 120A, 122A has an elongate tubular body 120B, 122B and a bearing surface or wall 120C, 122C on the top side of the respective rail 120B, 122B. The bumpers 120G, 122G are mounted on the bearing walls 120C, 122C. The tubular bodies 120B, 122B each include an inner side wall 120D, 122D, a bottom wall 120E, 122E, and bolt holes 120F, 122F.

The rails 120A, 122A may be formed by any suitable material, such as steel. The bumpers 120G, 122G may be formed of any suitable material, such as rubber.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 6, the coupling brackets 112 are mounted on opposed front and rear sides of the crossbeam 102 and secured to one another by a bolt 111A (which extends through the bolt holes 112D and beneath the crossbeam 102) and a nut 113. The runners 120, 122 are mounted on the crossbeam 102 with the bottom walls 120E, 122E abutting the top wall 108 of the crossbeam 102. Bolts 111B extend through the runner bolt holes 120F, 122F and the bracket bolt holes 112E and are secured by nuts 113. The bolts 111A, 111B are tightened to clamp the coupling brackets 112 onto the crossbeam 102 and to firmly secure the runners 120, 122 to opposed sides of the brackets 102 as illustrated.

Each bearing wall 120C, 122C is configured to form a bearing surface that is angled with respect to horizontal when the subassembly 112′ is installed. The runners 120, 122 are oriented with respect to the coupling brackets 112 and one another such that the bearing walls 120C, 122C define a generally V-shaped trough T therebetween to receive a hull structure 14. According to some embodiments, each bearing wall 120C, 122C defines an angle A (FIG. 6) with respect to horizontal in the range of from about 0 to 25 degrees and, according to some embodiments, between about 5 and 25 degrees.

The remaining subassemblies 114′, 132′, 134′ have corresponding components and can be assembled in the same manner as described above to construct the carriage assembly 100.

In use, the boat 10 is mounted on the carriage assembly 100 such that the hull structures 14 and 16 are seated in the troughs T of the cradle assembly 110 and the cradle assembly 130, respectively. For example, the carriage assembly 100 may be lowered into the water W by the drive mechanism 60. The boat 10 is then driven over the carriage assembly 100. The carriage assembly 100 is then raised by the drive system 61 to capture the hull structures 14 and 16 in the trough T between the runners 120, 122 and in the trough T between the runners 140, 142.

When the boat 10 is further raised out of the water W by the carriage assembly 100, the weight of the boat 10 will be exerted as a downward force or load D onto the bearing walls 120C, 122C of the runners 120, 122, 140, 142. The angled orientation of the bearing walls 120C, 122C and/or the angled orientation of the engaging surfaces 14A, 16A of the hull structures 14, 16 will convert a portion of the downward load into laterally outward and divergent loads or forces E tending to force the runners 120 and 122 apart from one another and tending to force the runners 140 and 142 apart from one another. As a result, the runners 120, 122 apply a tension load across the coupling brackets 112, 114 and the runners 140, 142 apply a tension load across the coupling brackets 132, 134. Because the coupling brackets 112, 114, 132, 134 are rigid and the bolts 111B, 131B are particularly strong in longitudinal tension, the runners 120, 122 and 140, 142 are prevented from being displaced or further spaced apart from one another.

The carriage assembly 100 can thus provide improved reliability and durability as compared to conventional designs. The carriage assembly 100 can support relatively heavy multi-hulled boats for extended periods of time and through repeated raising and lowering cycles without displacing the runners 120, 122 or 140, 142 out of proper relative spacing and alignment.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. 

1. A boat lift system for raising and lowering a multi-hulled boat from and into a body of water, the boat including first and second laterally spaced apart hull structures, the system comprising: a) a carrier assembly configured to hold the boat, the carrier assembly including: a crossbeam having a length; first and second cradle assemblies spaced apart along the length of the crossbeam and secured to the crossbeam, wherein each of the first and second cradle assemblies is configured to receive a respective one of the first and second hull structures and includes: a coupling bracket; and a pair of longitudinally extending runners each secured to the coupling bracket and positioned to receive and support the respective one of the first and second hull structures; wherein the coupling bracket connects and resists lateral separation between the runners; and b) a drive system operable to selectively raise and lower the carrier assembly.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein each coupling bracket is directly secured to the crossbeam.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein each coupling bracket is bolted to the crossbeam.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein each coupling bracket has laterally opposed sides and the associated runners are secured to respective ones of the opposed sides such that downward loading on the runners from the supported hull structure applies a tension load across the coupling bracket.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein each runner includes a bearing surface and the bearing surfaces of each pair of runners define a generally V-shaped trough to receive the respective one of the first and second hull structures.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein each runner includes a rail having a bearing surface and a bumper on the bearing surface to directly engage the respective one of the first and second hull structures.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein each runner rests on an upper side of the crossbeam.
 8. The system of claim 1 further including a second crossbeam having a length, wherein: the first and second cradle assemblies are spaced apart along the length of the second crossbeam and secured to the second crossbeam, and each include a second coupling bracket that connects and resists lateral separation between the runners thereof; and the second crossbeam is spaced apart from the first crossbeam along the lengths of the runners.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein: each first coupling bracket is directly bolted to the first crossbeam and each second coupling bracket is directly bolted to the second crossbeam; each of the first and second coupling brackets has laterally opposed sides and the associated runners are secured to respective ones of the opposed sides such that downward loading on the runners from the supported hull structure applies a tension load across the coupling bracket; each runner includes a bearing surface and the bearing surfaces of each pair of runners define a generally V-shaped trough to receive the respective one of the first and second hull structures; each runner includes a bumper on the bearing surface thereof to directly engage the respective one of the first and second hull structures; and each runner rests on an upper side of the first crossbeam and an upper side of the second crossbeam.
 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the drive system includes: a drive motor operable to selectively raise and lower the carrier assembly; and a linkage between the drive motor and the carrier assembly.
 11. A carrier assembly for use with a drive mechanism for raising and lowering a multi-hulled boat from and into a body of water, the boat including first and second laterally spaced apart hull structures, the carrier assembly configured to hold the boat and comprising: a) a crossbeam having a length; b) first and second cradle assemblies spaced apart along the length of the crossbeam and secured to the crossbeam, wherein each of the first and second cradle assemblies is configured to receive a respective one of the first and second hull structures and includes: a coupling bracket; and a pair of longitudinally extending runners each secured to the coupling bracket and positioned to receive and support the respective one of the first and second hull structures; wherein the coupling bracket connects and resists lateral separation between the runners.
 12. A method for raising and lowering a multi-hulled boat from and into a body of water, the boat including first and second laterally spaced apart hull structures, the method comprising: a) providing a boat lift system including: a carrier assembly configured to hold the boat, the carrier assembly including: a crossbeam having a length; first and second cradle assemblies spaced apart along the length of the crossbeam and secured to the crossbeam, wherein each of the first and second cradle assemblies is configured to receive a respective one of the first and second hull structures and includes: a coupling bracket; and a pair of longitudinally extending runners each secured to the coupling bracket and positioned to receive and support the respective one of the first and second hull structures; wherein the coupling bracket connects and resists lateral separation between the runners; and a drive system operable to selectively raise and lower the carrier assembly; b) mounting the boat on the carrier assembly with the first and second hull structures seated in the first and second cradle assemblies, respectively; and c) raising and lowering the carriage assembly, and thereby the boat, with respect to the water using the drive system. 